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FIRST IN PI … ALPINE GROUP ADDS TWO: The Alpine Group, a bipartisan government affairs firm, has hired two former Senate staffers. The firm has hired Lauren Bazel and Sheila Kennett. Bazel previously served as a senior adviser to Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Mo Cowan (D-Mass.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). Kennett was the director of scheduling and operations for Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and former scheduler for Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.). Bazel will help expand the firm’s tax, trade and finance policy practice. During her tenure on Capitol Hill, she focused on those three policy arenas as well as economic and budgetary policy. She also did a stint as associate director for government affairs at the Center for American Progress. Kennett joins the Alpine Group as director of operations and client services. “We are excited to have both Lauren and Sheila, both with such extensive experience, high skill and strong reputations, join the firm,” said Greg Means, principal and CFO of the Alpine Group, in a statement. “Alpine Group is committed to growing and improving our client services by bringing on the most experienced and qualified professionals available. We’re thrilled to have Lauren and Sheila join our team. ”

GOOD MONDAY AFTERNOON where it’s been 116 years since “J'accuse!” The open letter penned by author Émile Zola in the newspaper L'Aurore accused the French president and the French government of anti-Semitism over the imprisonment of Alfred Dreyfus. Zola was convicted of libel over the letter, but fled to England to avoid punishment. Send your lobbying news, gossip, tips and scoops to btau@politico.com. And keep up with PI on Twitter by following @ByronTau or @PoliticoPI.

LEVICK ENTERS THE LOBBYING SPACE: PR and strategic communication firm Levick is branching into lobbying and advocacy, the firm announced Monday. The firm has hired four lobbyists from Dow Lohnes Government Strategies. The law firm Dow Lohnes was absorbed by Cooley late last year, but the government relations practice was left out of that merger deal.

Four of Dow Lohnes’ lobbyists — including former firm partner Rick Kessler — are joining Levick to form a new practice there. The new lobbying group will be led by Kessler, who will hold the title of senior vice president. They will be based out of Levick’s Washington, D.C., headquarters. “The addition of lobbying advances our ability to orchestrate communication plans that deliver outcomes,” said Levick President Mark Irion in a statement. “Every discipline of the communications trade is necessarily evolving in the digital era, and lobbying is no exception. Levick ‘s vision is to marry the direct communications of lobbying with our expertise in informing and shaping public sentiment. Communications-supported lobbying is what’s next to effectively build public consensus and bolster political will.” The new practice will also include Michael Scrivner, Jessica Lenard, and Pete Leon — all three from Dow Lohnes.

In moving from the law firm world to the strategic communications world, Kessler said that it was a natural fit for the remaining Dow Lohnes lobbyists. “What was attractive to us was this whole kind of campaign-like approach where we are not just an add-on. We’re integrated,” he said about the relationship between the lobbyists and the communications practice.

… AND DOW LOHNES IS NO MORE: Kessler also tells PI that the Dow Lohnes's government affairs shop officially closed its doors on Dec. 31, 2013. The firm’s existing client roster — which included about $3 million in billings in 2013 — will be jumping to Levick. Kessler said he’s unaware of any lobbying client that’s not making the jump, but that the details were still being finalized. Dow Lohnes's current client list includes Chevron, Cox, DeVry, the Electric Power Supply Association, Overstock.com, Qualcomm and others. TheWashington Post had the news on Dow Lohnes and Levick first. Catherine Ho’s story is here: http://wapo.st/1ah9Za8

GAZELLE HIRES FIRST LOBBYIST: The electronic recycling startup Gazelle has hired Constantine Cannon to work on issues related to secondary retail markets for cellphones. It’s the first lobbying hire for the Boston-based company, which opened up in 2007, but has recently begun flooding the TV market with catchy ads offering cash for used gadgets. It calls the process of trading in used electronics “reCommerce,” and has paid out over $100 million for unwanted tech products. W. Stephen Cannon and Robert S. Schwartz will work on the account. The company declined to comment on its lobbying and advocacy work.

PROPANE ASSOCIATION ADDS AJW: The National Propane Gas Association has hired AJW to work on the Propane Education and Research Act. The 1996 law authorized the Propane Education & Research Council, a nonprofit trade organization whose board is appointed by the National Propane Gas Association and the Gas Processors Association. The association also signed Capitol Tax Partners in October to work on energy tax issues. The Gas Processors Association signed a new firm as well in the past quarter, to work on general natural gas issues. Christopher Miller, Christopher Hessler and Michael Stafford will work on the account.

NRF HOSTS POLICYMAKERS AT NYC SHOW: The National Retail Federation’s annual convention and expo — called Retail’s BIG Show — is in New York City this week. Thousands of retailers, vendors and exhibitors will hear from Jack Dorsey of Square and Twitter, Ken Hicks of Foot Locker,Terry Lundgren of Macy’s, and Ginni Rometty of IBM. There will also be a group of senior lawmakers and policymakers who will be participating in the association’s educational program on the intersection of retail technology and consumer involvement.

GLEN ECHO HIRES FINZEL: Communications and issue-advocacy firm Glen Echo Group has hired Ben Finzel as executive vice president, the firm announced Monday. Finzel is a former congressional staffer, presidential appointee and PR executive with more than two decades of corporate communications, public affairs and energy experience. “Ben adds some serious jet fuel to the Glen Echo growth strategy to partner with clients invested and engaged in the New Economy,” explained Glen Echo Group CEO & founder Maura Corbett. “At Glen Echo, while we take pride in not taking ourselves seriously, we take our work and our clients to heart. Ben's expertise in strategy, media relations and partnerships, as well as his depth in energy and cleantech are a natural fit with the Glen Echo Group focus on translating complicated issues into compelling stories that drive action.”

CHAVEZ JUMPS FROM GOOGLE TO LINKEDIN: Via Tony Romm: Pablo Chavez, a longtime public policy leader at Google, will depart the search firm to take a new position at LinkedIn as vice president of global public policy and government affairs. He'll start in the new position Jan. 28, marking LinkedIn's first D.C. hire. LinkedIn said he'll report to the company's general counsel, Erika Rottenberg. Chavez has worked for the past seven years at Google leading its federal policy work, after spending years on Capitol Hill.

THIRD WAY CELEBRATES: Centrist think tank Third Way hosted its "Fete for Friends" at its office on Connecticut Avenue last week. Spotted: Bill Galston of Brookings, JD Grom, Izzy Klein of Podesta, Bill Miller of Business Roundtable and Tamera Luzzatto of Pew, among others.

WEST TAKES OVER AT STEPTOE:Phil West has assumed the leadership of the firm Steptoe & Johnson, after becoming chairman of Steptoe’s executive committee effective Jan. 1, 2014. West succeeds Roger Warin, who served as chair for a decade and who has now been named chairman emeritus. Steptoe’s partners have also reelected Phil Malet as vice-chairman of the executive committee.

HOUSEKEEPING NEWS: WE’RE PUBLISHING TERMINATIONS NOW: PI will be tracking and publishing lobbying terminations on a rolling basis — just like we do with LDA hirings. See below for our new feature.

ELSEWHERE IN THE INFLUENCE WORD:

K STREETERS UNAFRAID OF FACING THE VOTERS:National Journal: “Of late, lobbyists-turned-candidates have taken starring roles in key Senate, gubernatorial, and House campaigns. The latest is former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie, who is planning to run for the Senate against Mark Warner in Virginia. He’d be the second lobbyist to seek major office in the Old Dominion in just the last year, after Democrat Terry McAuliffe sought and won the state’s gubernatorial seat in 2013.” http://bit.ly/1gAzeoX

K STREET FINDING A WAY: WaPo: “Perhaps most importantly, the disclosure reports that are due Jan. 21 do not include activities such as preparing comments about proposed regulations and meetings with lower-level regulatory staff members, and there is no public record of income from this kind of regulatory work. While contacts with high-level agency officials, along with interactions with Congress, are reported on the disclosures, non-disclosed regulatory work brings in as much revenue at some firms.” http://wapo.st/1gAw0BK

COMING THIS WEEK: We're unveiling Energy Regulation Watch, an exclusive product that will offer Pro subscribers a detailed look at the regulations that affect your world. From the earliest agency notices to the final court rulings, our Tracker will give you an at-a-glance overview of the important regs, with handy links, and our once-every-two-weeks newsletter will keep you up to date on the latest action. To learn more about Pro, contact info@politicopro.com.

NEW POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS:

None

NEW LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS: (Firm: Client)

AJW, Inc.: National Propane Gas Association

Capitol Hill Advocates: American Associations for Radon Scientists and Technologists

Constantine Cannon: Gazelle, Inc.

Gray & Oscar: Steamfitters Local 420

Hawk International: Hippocrates Institute

Pace: Bishop Paiute Tribe

NEW LOBBYING TERMINATIONS (Firm: Client (Type of Termination))

Abraham & Roetzel: Lakeshore TolTest Corporation (Q4 no activity)

Active Policy Solutions: United States Tennis Association (Q4 no activity)

Send to a friendAlpine Group adds two - Levick enters the lobbying space ... and Dow Lohnes is no more - Gazelle hires first lobbyist - Propane Association adds AJW - NRF hosts policymakers at NYC show